A £33m crackdown on modern slavery by the Government has been welcomed by Central Devon MP Mel Stride.
He has praised Prime Minister Theresa May’s weekend announcement that the sum will be allocated from the aid budget to tackle the crime overseas.
He also greeted the news that a special UK cabinet taskforce would be established to target the problem at home.
Mr Stride, who supported the 2015 Modern Slavery Act in the House of Commons, said: ‘Modern slavery is a very complex and difficult issue.
‘It exists in so many guises and across international boundaries – from Nigerian women forced into involuntary domestic servitude to boys from Thailand forced to tend cannabis farms and to eastern European women forced into prostitution.
‘Using part of our aid budget to tackle these crimes is a welcome move.’
He added: ‘Regrettably, human trafficking is also a problem within the UK with thousands of victims held against their will and forced to work.
‘The 2015 Modern Slavery Act has helped prosecute more criminals for these abhorrent acts and has led to a significant rise in the number of victims the police now know about – but more needs to be done.
‘A dedicated cabinet taskforce is a clear sign that this will be a top priority for the new Government.’
Mrs May’s announcement coincided with an annual review of the 2015 Modern Slavery Act which praised the impact of the legislation but also made a number of recommendations on how to tackle the problem.